Dewsbury Rams 0

Leigh Centurions 40

WHAT a difference nine months has made to Leigh Centurions.

Thumped 52-6 on the same ground last September, arriving with just 13 players and finishing with only 11, Leigh now sit joint second in the Betfred Championship.

Winger Stefan Marsh, centre Liam Forsyth and prop Luke Douglas each scored twice in this seven try whitewash. Mitch Cox also touched down while Martyn Ridyard added six goals.

“I am really happy for the players because a few months ago we didn’t know where we were going to be,” said coach John Duffy.

“In the week, Micky Higham spoke about what happened here last season so I am glad we produced a really good performance.

“It was a tough, physical game but we knew they would come hard and give it us.

“Our togetherness and attitude was bang on. And our goal line defence was superb.”

Higham was the sole survivor from the side humbled at the Tetley Stadium last year as Centurions warmed up in style for Wednesday’s AB Sundecks 1895 Cup quarter-final against Barrow at St Helens.

Cory Paterson also became the latest player to make his second Leigh debut after re-signing from Toronto Wolfpack.

The afternoon was only marred by assistant coach Paul Anderson’s red card at the end of the first half for using foul and abusive language.

Rob Worrincy’s knock on from Higham’s harrying led to Leigh taking an early lead through Forsyth.

Ridyard kicked the first of his six goals and Centurions were on their way to an eighth win in nine games. Aussie favourite Douglas ploughed over for another converted try and Leigh were in control.

Playing down the slope was tailor made for more points but Lee Greenwood’s men rallied well led by their former Super League half-backs, Paul Sykes and Liam Finn.

But the Rams couldn’t turn a 10-minute spell of pressure into points and Leigh showed them how to finish with Marsh going over from Ridyard’s pass.

When Dewsbury did breach the visitors’ line Kyle Trout was pulled back for a forward pass.

Leigh added a fourth try before the break as Marsh finished off a brilliant, long Woods’ pass and Ridyard kicked a conversion off the touchline,

Ridyard added a 48 metres penalty after the half-time hooter but that wasn’t the end of the action.

Anderson continued an argument with Rams winger Andy Gabriel as the teams left the field leading to his dismissal from referee Pearson.

Leigh scored three further tries in a disjointed second half, two after Dewsbury went down to 12-men because of Gabriel’s yellow card with Rams on a team warning.

In form Forsyth and then Mitch Cox and Douglas went over the depleted home line as Leigh finished with a flourish.

Dewsbury:Martin; Worrincy, O. Trout, Ryder, Gabriel; Sykes, Finn; Annakin, Ward, Sheriffe, Walshaw, Knowles, K Trout; substitutes: Day, Richardson, Igbinedion, Garratt.

Tries: None

Goals: None

Leigh: McNally; Cox, I Thornley, Forsyth, Marsh; Ridyard, Woods; Douglas, Higham, L Adamson, Paterson, A Thornley, Thompson; substitutes: Hood, Cator, Hock, Emmitt.

Tries: Forsyth (5,63), Douglas (10,78), Marsh (25, 37), Cox (74).

Goals: Ridyard 6/8

Referee: Billy Pearson

Half-time: 0-24

Attendance: 1,668

Sin bin: Gabriel (Dewsbury)